During pregnancy, the child can suffer from many diseases, one of them being Down syndrome. This is a genetic condition. The child is not normal in this disease. Let us know which children are most at risk of Down syndrome, and what are its symptoms. Dr. Know about this from ShivharSonawane Consultant - Pediatrician Jupiter Hospital, Pune.
Which children are most at risk of Down syndrome?
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder. This disorder is caused by a chromosomal disorder. As the childbearing age increases, the risk of Down syndrome increases. Women who become pregnant at or after 35 are more likely to have a pregnancy affected by Down syndrome than women who become pregnant at a younger age. This is a condition in which an extra chromosome is found inside the person. A child is born with 46 chromosomes. These chromosomes are present in pairs, 23 from the mother and 23 from the father. It contains an extra copy of chromosome 21. Due to this, it is called Down syndrome in the medical world. It is also called trisomy 21. This extra copy affects the development of children's bodies and brains. That means this type of child has 47 chromosomes.
Down syndrome symptoms
- Flat face
- Flat body
- Abnormally shaped nose
- Abnormally shaped ears
- Eyes slant upward
- Short neck
- Small hands
- Little fingers
- Flat eyes
Problems caused by Down syndrome
- heart failure
- hearing loss
- trouble even seeing
- immunity disorder
- spinal problems
- ear infection
Image credit- Freepik
